This past February I completed a rigorous application for the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program to China. The program would send 16 teachers to China for one month to study Chinese culture, economy and history. I awaited anxiously a notification by mail. I checked the mail everyday for what seemed to be an eternity. Finally, I received a letter.
Xi'an, the "cradle of Chinese civilization," is located in central China and was the capital for eleven Chinese dynasties. We will hear lectures on politics, government, ethnic minorities, as well as on the social and economic aspects of the "Develop the West" policy. We will also visit educational, historic and archeological sites related to the lectures. One of the things I most look forward to is the chance to see the Terracotta Army.
Chongqing is the largest municipality located in southwest China. We will visit this port city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It is known as the famous "mountain city." It is home to a huge population of about 28 million people. Numerous ethnic groups reside here including Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Qiang, You and Tujia. Since its founding 3,000 years ago, many dynasties set up administrative institutions that have endowed the city with brilliant cultures. Lastly, we will travel to Shanghai. Shanghai is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Several days will be spent there examining topics such as the history of colonial involvement in China, the rise of China's Communist Party, and current urban issues including the city's unique economic contribution to the country.
Traveling over the past years to Spain, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Kazakhstan has brought passion back into my teaching, something I had lost for a bit. Traveling provides my students with relevant stories and experiences which enable them to meet, interact and collaborate with their fellow world citizens. I will be blogging about all of these places, all of the things we see, the people we meet, the food we eat, the history we learn and the adventures we have. Global education is of utmost importance in regards to how I teach. Aside from my students I hope that my teaching peers will see what is possible if they take the same steps and apply for programs like this. Upon completion of the program, units of study will be designed by each of the 16 participants and will be available to colleagues who wish to teach about China in their own classrooms. We will make those resources available. So here we go again . . .
I was beyond excited to say the least. We were notified that we would be traveling extensively throughout this trip and the itinerary included an impressive array of cultural, educational and economic sites of importance to study.
San Francisco, CA, USA
Prior to international departure, we will gather in the San
Francisco area for a two- and-a-half-day pre-departure orientation
program. Program participants will get to know each other and attend
introductory briefings on topics such as Chinese culture, society and
language, as well as the educational, political, and economic systems.
Once in China, the itinerary will include meetings, site visits, and
discussions in four cities chosen to show different aspects of China.
Beijing
Beijing, the capital of China, is home to many top universities,
government offices, and sites of historic and cultural interest. We will explore the capital city and visit educational and
economic institutions where we will hear lectures on Chinese history,
politics, economics, and education. Site visits to government agencies,
media outlets, and historic and cultural sites are designed to
complement these lectures and provide an immersive learning experience
in this fascinating country.
Xi'an
Xi'an, the "cradle of Chinese civilization," is located in central China and was the capital for eleven Chinese dynasties. We will hear lectures on politics, government, ethnic minorities, as well as on the social and economic aspects of the "Develop the West" policy. We will also visit educational, historic and archeological sites related to the lectures. One of the things I most look forward to is the chance to see the Terracotta Army.
Chongqing
Chongqing is the largest municipality located in southwest China. We will visit this port city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It is known as the famous "mountain city." It is home to a huge population of about 28 million people. Numerous ethnic groups reside here including Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Qiang, You and Tujia. Since its founding 3,000 years ago, many dynasties set up administrative institutions that have endowed the city with brilliant cultures. Lastly, we will travel to Shanghai. Shanghai is widely recognized as one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Several days will be spent there examining topics such as the history of colonial involvement in China, the rise of China's Communist Party, and current urban issues including the city's unique economic contribution to the country.
Shanghai
Canada 2013 - Quebec City History Trip - AVEC Contemporary Issues
Traveling over the past years to Spain, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Kazakhstan has brought passion back into my teaching, something I had lost for a bit. Traveling provides my students with relevant stories and experiences which enable them to meet, interact and collaborate with their fellow world citizens. I will be blogging about all of these places, all of the things we see, the people we meet, the food we eat, the history we learn and the adventures we have. Global education is of utmost importance in regards to how I teach. Aside from my students I hope that my teaching peers will see what is possible if they take the same steps and apply for programs like this. Upon completion of the program, units of study will be designed by each of the 16 participants and will be available to colleagues who wish to teach about China in their own classrooms. We will make those resources available. So here we go again . . .
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